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Spencer Paysinger always puts the team first

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Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger volunteered to take teammate Jacquian Williams' special teams reps vs. Eagles on Oct. 27 and Williams played so well he took Paysinger's starting job.
(Chris Faytok/The Star-Ledger)

I told (the coaches) wherever they put me, I'm going to try to do my best.

Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger is the consummate team player, the embodiment of selflessness.

That it ultimately cost him his starting job hasn’t deterred him or made him bitter. What it has done is reinforce his belief that he did the right thing and would do it over again.

"At the end of the day, I want to help my team out as much as possible in any way I can," Paysinger said in a quiet moment this week.

The first in a string of team-first gestures by Paysinger came early last month when he — without hesitation — gave up his No. 52 jersey, which he had worn for the first 2½ years of his career, to newly acquired middle linebacker Jon Beason, who has an affection for the number.

Then, during the Giants’ 15-7 victory over the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 27, Paysinger saw fellow linebacker and friend Jacquian Williams out of breath as he played special teams and defense in the game. Williams had been given a larger role in the game-plan that week over Paysinger.

As Williams struggled with his stamina, Paysinger volunteered to take Williams’ special teams reps during the game. Williams subsequently caught his breath, went on to have a standout game and took over full-time at weakside linebacker. Paysinger has played sparingly on defense ever since.

Finally, Paysinger made a huge special teams play in the Giants’ 27-13 victory over the Packers last week, tackling newly inserted punt protector M.D. Jennings a yard short of the first down on a momentum-changing, fake-punt play. He quickly credited teammate Ryan Mundy for alerting teammates of a possible fake punt moments before the snap.

It has all left Paysinger on the bench.

"In the moment, I didn’t regret it, and I don’t regret it now," Paysinger said when asked if he has second-guessed himself for essentially helping Williams take his job. "I feel like that was a spark for our defense and it helped provide another win for our team.

"Jacquian is playing lights out. I’m not one to sit here and say I’m not starting and get down on myself."

Williams is appreciative of the sacrifices that Paysinger has made.

"Spencer has been a great asset to the entire linebacking corps," Williams said. "He’s a team-first guy."

Paysinger, a third-year pro, was signed as a rookie free agent out of Oregon in 2011. His career was finally starting to gain some traction this season.

He started the first seven games. He was third on the team in tackles (35), had one sack and one fumble recovery. He was playing the best among the Giants’ much-maligned linebacking corps.

Then, Paysinger decided to ease Williams’ special teams’ burden during the Eagles’ game.

"I don’t view it as a setback in my career," Paysinger said. "It’s a new situation. Coming into the year, we only had a handful of linebackers. Obviously, the emergence of Jon Beason and some other guys have allowed us to do some great things.

"I’m not the type of person to dwell on what’s not happening and what I can’t control. The coaches think I can be more effective on special teams. I told them wherever they put me, I’m going to try to do my best."

Paysinger and Mundy, who has also lost his starting job, have emerged as leaders on special teams. The unit, which has given up three punt returns for touchdowns and is the second-worst in the NFL, had its best game of the season last week.

The Giants need another solid performance from the group against the Cowboys. Dallas boasts the second-best special teams unit in the NFL. Return specialist Dwayne Harris ranks second in the NFL in punt (15.1-yard average) and kickoff (32.3-yard average) returns.

"It’s a little bit hard emotionally when you’re a starter and then you come back (to special teams)," Giants special teams coordinator Tom Quinn said. "It takes a little bit of time emotionally to get back, but I really feel good about where they’re at and what they’re doing."

Paysinger is in the final year of his contract, and the Giants have an option for next season. He has proven he can play in this league. He wants to remain with the Giants, the team that gave him an opportunity when nobody else would.

"Hopefully, I’ll do enough for them to want to keep me," Paysinger said. "I don’t want to go anywhere else. I don’t think there’s anywhere else better than the Giants in terms of organization and history.

"I want to do everything I can to stay here. But if that day doesn’t come, I’ll set up shop somewhere else."